The Chicago Blackhawks have relied on Marcus Kruger as one of their primary defensive forwards in recent years, but they'll be without him for the foreseeable future as the center underwent surgery to repair a dislocated left wrist.
The surgery will keep Kruger out of the lineup for four months, according to a statement by team physician Dr. Michael Terry.
Kruger, who was a fifth round pick of the Blackhawks in 2009, has only one assist in 33 games this season, but he is an instrumental part of the team's penalty killing unit, and his line usually draws tough defensive assignments in Joel Quenneville's system.
At least in the short term, Kruger will be replaced by Phillip Danault, who was called up from the Rockford IceHogs on Friday morning.
